Happy Christmas

         Merry Christmas from all of us!

I would like to start by wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!  Thank you for reading and staying with me throughout the year!  There is of course no racing today in Britain and Ireland but there is action in France at Cagnes Sur Mer should you be looking for something to keep you entertained!  Their seven race card gets underway at 11.30am our time and there are two claiming races on the card.  Nothing stands out as obvious horses to claim on paper but you never know what might happen if you watch!

Christmas morning begins like any other here at Pond House with an early start for feeding up and half of the staff work this morning with the other half working New Year's Day.  We give the staff the choice of which one (or both!) they would like to work and it usually works out a pretty even split which is good.  Those with young families tend to not work Christmas Day to spend time with the children while those who have grown up families don't tend to mind working and in the process work up an appetite for their Christmas Dinner!  The plan is for everyone to ride two lots, muck out and get all the jobs done before heading home when everything is done.  David and the family take care of evening stables before we all look forward to the racing action on Boxing Day!  I am not working on Christmas morning so have pre-written this and shall be in then every other day over the Festive period!  I am not sure I would cope very well with a couple of weeks off work like so many people have!

 Now a little brain teaser for you all with a little quiz borrowed from the Sporting Life - answers tomorrow!

RACING & CHRISTMAS

1. As well as the King George, Kempton’s Boxing Day card also features the Grade 1 Novice Chase known originally as the Feltham Novice Chase - it's now the Kauto Star Novices' Chase. This century two horses have won it and then gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup - name them.

2. The now retired Barry Geraghty rode three Kempton Christmas Hurdle winners. They were Epatante, Buveur d’Air and which other horse?

3. In which year did Santa Claus win the Derby?

4. A now traditional, waterlogging permitted, highlight of racing over Christmas is the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow. How many fences are jumped?

5. Clan Des Obeaux beat Cyrname in the 2019 King George in a 1-2 for Paul Nicholls. What was the distance between them at the line? (and as it's Christmas you can have 2 lengths either way!)

6. Which horse beat Chacun Pour Soi to land the Grade One Novice Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival in 2019?

7. Barters Hill, Champ and Messire Des Obeaux have all won which feature race over the Christmas period in recent years?

8. Champ was recently ruled out of the Savills Chase, the Grade 1 three mile chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Who was the last British-trained horse to win it?

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Day however you may be spending it and I shall be back tomorrow ahead of the feast of Boxing Day action!

How do you know when Santa’s around? You can always sense his presents!

Happy Christmas!